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Abstract of the Dissertation 

Nonlinear Time-Dependent Seismic Response of Unanchored Liquid Storage Tanks

by
Ali Elzeiny
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
University of California, Irvine,
Professor Medhat A. Haroun, Chair

The present study investigates the effects of liquid hydrodynamic pressures exerted on thin-walled liquid storage tanks during earthquake motions. Several complexities are involved in the analysis of such tanks depending on their boundary conditions. In the case of unanchored liquid storage tanks, complexities arise due to successive contact and separation between base plates and foundations, large amplitude deformations of base plates, pre- and post-buckling behavior of shells, material yielding, soil-tank interaction, and large-amplitude free surface sloshing.

The main objective of this research is to develop a two/three dimensional computer model capable of performing simulation of the complex dynamic behavior of various types of liquid storage tanks subjected to a strong seismic base excitation. The model takes into consideration both large amplitude liquid sloshing and nonlinear liquid-structure interaction using the finite element method. The program also has the following features:


next up previous contents
Next: Historical Background Up: List of Tables Previous: Acknowledgement
A. Zeiny
2000-09-06